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The
start of this decade saw Jimmy McAlinden's squad mature into one
of the most exciting teams in the League --- they won the Irish
Cup and were third in the League in 1970/71, and were runners-up
in the Ulster Cup in 1971/72 and 1972/73. The achievement was remarkable
considering the club was forced to vacate Grosvenor Park and use
other teams grounds for the rest of the decade. Seaview and Skegoniel
Avenue became the home venues as financial survival of the club
became the priority. There were no more trophy successes, though
they were runners-up in the CAS in 1975/76. The decade ended in
optimism as the search for a permanent home ground started to bear
fruit.
1
ROY McDONALD
was a young reserve keeper who played his only game of 1969/70 in
an unimportant postponed Ulster Cup tie on 21-1-70. He played in
every game of the 1970/71 season and was instrumental in helping
win the Irish Cup that year. He played one game for the Irish League
and was an N.I. Amateur International. He only played 84 times for
the Whites as a half-time argument at Coleraine during an Irish
Cup tie saw him leave the ground and never play again for the team.
He was transfered to Crusaders for £300.
2
RAY WHITE
from Derry City played in all defensive positions for the club and
made his debut on 6-11-70. He was a solid though injury-prone player
who at one stage missed an entire season through injury. He was
with the Whites for 10 seasons but only made 161 appearances scoring
4 goals.
3
DEREK MELDRUM
continued his 14 season career at full-back and helped to win the
Irish Cup in 1970/71. He made 149 appearances in this era and scored
a rare goal in 1973/74. He moved on to play for Dungannon Swifts,
finishing his Distillery career with 465 appearances and 2 goals.
4
TOMMY BRANNIGAN
was signed from Ballymena and made his debut on 5-10-68. The former
Derry and Ballymena player turned out in all mid-field positions.
He played in the losing Irish Cup Final of 1968/69, but got his
winners medal in the Irish Cup Final of 1970/71.In seven seasons
he made 248 appearances and scored 11 goals. He was the last player
of the successful 1970/71 team to leave the Whites.
5
PETER RAFFERTY made
his debut at centre-forward on 19-4-67 in a game in which Tommy
Brannigan of Ballymena scored an own goal for the Whites. His recognised
position was centre-half and he first played there on 12-10-67 though
in his career he played in every position except no.11 --- he even
turned out as starting goalkeeper in 7 games. By February 1970 he
was the established centre-half. He played in the losing Irish Cup
Final of 1968/69 at no.7, but helped the Whites win the Irish Cup
in 1970/71. He made 262 appearances in 8 seasons scoring 36 goals.
In December 1973 he was transfered to Linfield and later played
for Northern Ireland.
6
MARTIN DONNELLY
made his debut as substitute on 27-9-69 but by February 1970 he
was the established left-half. He was a N.I. Amateur International
and played a vital part in the Irish Cup win of 1970/71. He once
played at centre-forward but he was a classy solid defender who
could be uncompromising when required --- in 1972 he was suspended
for two months due to bookings and sending offs. He made 140 appearances
and scored 9 goals before moving on to play for Kidderminster and
Waterford.
7
SEAN QUINN was
probably the most under-rated versatile player in club history.
He was on the subs bench several times during the 1970/71 season
but could not break into a superb line-up. He eventually made his
debut at right-back and in his 8 season career played in every position
except goalkeeper and centre-forward. In his last season, 1977/78,
he scored 7 goals and even scored for both sides on 25-3-78. He
made 198 appearances and scored 12 goals.
8
PETER WATSON joined
the club from Glentoran as part of the Gerry McCaffery transfer
and made his debut on 26-12-69. He was part of the Irish Cup winning
team of 1970/71 and was a top quality striker and penalty taker.
As a Distillery player he played for Northern Ireland in April 1971
when he came on as sub against Cyprus. In 148 appearances he scored
61 goals and in August 1973 he was transfered to Dundalk then Portadown.
9
JIM SAVAGE
made his debut on 10-2-68 and played for 8 seasons. He was a N.I.
Amateur International who also played for the British Olympic team.
He scored in the Irish Cup Final of 1970/71 and made 204 appearances
in his career, scoring 44 goals.
10
BERTIE McMINN
made his debut as a 16 year old on 5-10-74. He was a N.I. Youth
International and he played in every game of the 1977/78 season,
scoring in the losing CAS semi-final that year. He was an immensely
skillful player who could ' turn on a sixpence ' and turn a game.
He joined Glenavon for a season in 1978/79 but returned to Distillery
in 1979/80. He made 182 appearances and scored 44 goals in this
era.
11
GEORDIE LENNOX continued
his career as the regular no.11, having made his debut on 4-11-67.
He played in the 1968/69 and 1970/71 Irish Cup Finals and was a
N.I. Amateur International. He broke his leg in 1-5-71 and was out
of action for eight months. He made 198 appearances and scored 27
goals before moving on to continue his career at Crusaders.
Reserves:---
Sammy
Stewart
was a former Bangor and Linfield keeper who played for 5 seasons.
Martin
O' Neill was an inside-forward with a reputation for scoring
wonder goals. He scored two goals in the 1970/71 Irish Cup Final
and later played for Nottingham Forest, Norwich and Man.City as
well as becoming a N.I. International.
Cyril
Hewitt was a classy mid-fielder who was transfered to Middlesboro.
Brian Jess was a 100% versatile defender who played regularly for
5 seasons before moving to Ballymena and Crusaders.
Gerry Higgins was a free-scoring left-winger who played regularly
for three seasons before joining Glenavon and Larne.
Roy Welsh returned from Glentoran for a four season spell playing
mainly at full-back before becoming manager in 1975/76.
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